Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards, meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, or chemical fertilizers and that they were processed without food additives. Livestock are raised without the routine use of antibiotics（抗生素）or growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified. They may also be required to be produced using energy-saving technologies and packaged using recyclable materials when possible.
Early consumers interested in organic food would look for non-chemically treated, fresh or minimally processed food.
They mostly had to buy directly from growers: “Know your farmer, know your food” was the motto. Personal definitions of what constituted ( 組成)“organic” were developed through first-hand experience: by talking to farmers, seeing farm conditions, and farming activities. Historically, organic farms were relatively small family-run farms — which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers’ markets.
However, since the early 1990s organic food has had growth rates of around 20% a year. As of April 2008, organic food accounts for 1 - 2% of food sales worldwide. Currently organic food production is legally regulated. Many countries require producers to obtain organic certification in order to market food as organic.
Several studies have attempted to examine and compare conventional and organic systems of farming. The general consensus（共同看法）is that, in the short term, organic farming is less damaging for the following reasons:
● Organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides (合成農(nóng)藥) into the environment — some of which have the potential to harm soil, water and local wildlife.
● Organic farms are better than conventional farms at keeping diverse ecosystems, i.e., populations of plants and insects, as well as animals.        
● Organic farms are more energy efficient and produce less waste.
Another report published in March 2008 by The Organic Center claims that organic food is on average 25% more nutritious than conventional food.     
However, many critics believe that the increased land needed to farm organic food could potentially destroy the rainforests and wipe out many ecosystems. And organic products cost 10 to 40% more than similar conventionally produced products. Processed organic foods in supermarkets are 65% more expensive.
1. Early consumers knew what food was “organic” by _______.
A. firsthand experience                                     B. the “certified organic” label tag
C. its packaging                                                      D. examining its organic certification
2. We can infer that _______.
A. in America, organic food can only be bought in small stores or farmers’ markets
B. organic food is also available in large supermarkets at present
C. organic food is produced by large-scale farms
D. organic food is often beautifully packaged
3. According to the passage, organic food is considered as _______.     
A. junk food              B. delicious snacks               C. green food      D. conventional food
4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A. The benefits of organic food.                               B. The cost of organic food.
C. The disadvantages of organic food.                   D. Organic food and conventional food.
5. Which of the following statements does NOT support the view that organic farming is more environment-friendly?
A. Organic food is generally thought to be more nutritious.
B. Organic farms are more energy efficient and produce less waste.
C. Organic farms are better than conventional farms at maintaining varieties of plants, insects and animals.
D. Organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides into the environment.

Berlin---China’s endeavor(efforts) to enhance(step up) environmental protection, energy-saving and gas emission-cut(減排) and build a resource-conserving society is of great significance to the world,  said Klaus Toepfer, former chief of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in a recent interview with Xinhua.
“Such a move is in the interest of the entire world, and meets the need of the global sustainable development（可持續(xù)性發(fā)展）,” he added.
ACHIEVEMENTS
“As a member of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), I have seen the strong determination of China’s leadership,” said Toepfer.
“The performance of the Chinese central and regional governments during the process of urbanization(城市化進(jìn)程) also makes me believe that it has become the consensus（共識(shí)）of all the governments to protect the environment, save energy, cut greenhouse gas emission, and to build an resource-conserving society.”
The expert took Shanghai as an example. “The Shanghai government is fully aware of the importance of an energy-saving and resource-efficient structure.”
To make Shanghai an eco-friendly city, the municipal government（市政府）has taken measures such as building more sewage processing facilities（污水處理設(shè)備）, limiting the number of cars to help ease traffic jam and improve air conditions, he said, describing them as quite impressive.
He also noted many changes in the government’s policies concerning manufacturing and service industries（加工、服務(wù)業(yè)）, an indication of China’s new approach to environmental protection and energy conservation.
For instance, China has given higher priority（優(yōu)先）to the proper handling of carbon dioxide emission. The country has also actively been engaged in the research and development of electricity-powered cars and cars that use alternative energy.
MORE TO BE DONE
However, despite the positive results, more needs to be done in China, the former UN environment chief said.
China still needs to make tremendous efforts to tackle tough challenges such as to protect water resources, reduce air pollution and enhance energy efficiency, he added.
Toepfer suggested that China introduce advanced new technologies on environmental protection and energy-saving from other countries, and actively participate in international cooperation projects on environmental protection and energy conservation as the country already has a strong scientific and economic capability.
On the negative impacts of the ongoing financial crisis on environmental protection and energy conservation, Toepfer said the impacts are obvious, but only of short duration. As governments’ measures to stabilize financial markets take effect, environmental protection and energy conservation will again become the world's major concern, he said.
67. The passage may probably be entitled ______.
A. China's environmental protection crucial (至關(guān)重要的)to the world
B. China’s achievements and tasks in environmental protection
C. China’s contributions to the sustainable development of the world
D. China’s determination in face of the ongoing financial crisis
68. In Toepfer’s opinion, the major concern at present is ______.
A. energy conservation                  B. environmental protection
C. carbon dioxide emission               D. financial crisis
69. Toepfer’s attitude towards the ongoing financial crisis is ______.
A. contradictory      B. negative      C. optimistic     D. pessimistic(悲觀的)
70. Which of the following statements is true referring to the passage?
A. Regional governments’ work is not so efficient.
B. Efforts made by China have won the appreciation of the world.
C. The present financial crisis will last for several years at least.
D. At present China should introduce new technologies on production.

There seems to be a __________ that the plan should be given up.

A. prevention        B. measure            C. consensus         D. recognition

It is really important for parents to reach a _______ between what they want and what their kids desire.

A. conclusion    B. compromise C. communication D. consensus

A particular quirk(古怪舉動(dòng))of Canadian education is that there isn’t one system but 13. All 10 provinces and all 3 territories have the right to run their own education systems. It’s established in the Constitution.

This means there is no national standard. Nobody agrees on the grade at which one makes the transition from elementary to secondary school, nor on how many years’ schooling is compulsory, nor how many grades there should be before college or university, nor how schools should be funded. Families relocating often get a surprise when they are informed that the children will have to repeat a grade because the one they have just finished does not cover the required courses to pass into the next grade where they are now.

Older children from isolated areas may be sent away to boarding schools, but this practice is falling out of favor. These days children in a very small community are more likely to attend the same school from kindergarten to grade 12(13 in Ontario, 11 in Quebec). In rural areas, pupils are taken to the nearest school in large yellow buses, some spending over an hour on the bus each way. Some never do a spot of homework at home because they always complete it on the bus. With the arrival of computers, high-quality education has now become possible even in very remote areas. It also enables parents to educate their children at home.

Colleges in Canada are sponsored by the state. Fully 75% of Canadian students go on after high school to some sort of further education. Having a university degree is fast becoming the minimum standard for employment but is far from a guarantee of a good job; those with a PhD in Philosophy, if not holding tenure at a university, are likely to be flipping burgers at a fast-food joint.

                      75 ______________________